This Narrative is also entitled to particular attention, from the high celebrity of the Author, whose name has been immortalized in Germany, by his Works on Jurisprudence; and is well known in England, by his "Remarkable Criminal Trials." That Work deserves the utmost commendation, from the accuracy with which the facts are related, and the characters pourtrayed, and is, like all his other writings, admirable, from the elegance and beauty of its style. His abilities and acquirements, which command universal veneration, enabled him, at the age of twenty years, to become a Professor, and secured to him, subsequently, the confidence and favour of the late King of Bavaria, by whom he was employed in framing a new Criminal Code. He has now been, for many years, the President of a Court of Appeals, which is occupied both in the investigation, and in the decision of judicial cases, and which furnishes abundant opportunities for attentive observation, and for scrutinizing research. He has thus added to all his other advantages, those which are derived from long experience, and from the exercise of his official functions; and is

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peculiarly qualified by his habits, as well as by his talents, for the investigation in which he has been, and still continues to be, anxiously engaged, of the case of Kaspar Hauser, who (as the Author states, in a Letter to the Director Hitzig, at Berlin,) has been, "for "years, the first and most important object "of my enquiries, of my observations, and "of my solicitude; and, also, of extreme "interest to me as a man, as a literary cha"racter, and as a Servant of the State."

I earnestly wish, that, in this Translation, I had been able to do justice to the style, as well as to the other merits of the Work, of which I have omitted the Dedication, as it was addressed to me by the Author, whose private friendship I have the happiness and honour of enjoying. At the end of the Work, I have added a few Notes, which are chiefly explanatory.

KASPAR HAUSER.

CHAPTER I.

AT Nuremberg, one of the principal days of amusement is Easter Monday, when most of the inhabitants are dispersed in the country, or in the neighbouring villages. The town, which is very extensive, in proportion to its present scanty population, becomes then, and particularly in fine weather, so dreary and destitute of inhabitants, that it resembles rather the enchanted city in the Sahara, than a town animated by manufactures and commerce. some parts of it, especially in those which are at a distance from its centre, much that is intended to be concealed may then take place publicly, and yet remain unknown.

In

It happened then, that on Easter Monday, May 26, 1828, between four and five o'clock

B

in the afternoon, the following event occurred. A citizen, who resides on the Unschlittplatz, (in the neighbourhood of the Hallerthörchens, (1) which is very little frequented,) was in front of his house, intending to go from thence, to what is called the "New Gate," when looking round, he perceived, not far from him, a lad, dressed like a peasant, who was standing in a strange attitude, similar to that of a person who is intoxicated, and appeared unable to hold himself upright, or to use his legs. The citizen approached the stranger, who held a letter, with the address,

"To the well born (2) Captain of the "Fourth Squadron of the Sixth Regiment of Light Horse.

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As the Captain, who was thus designated, resided near the "New Gate," the citizen conducted the lad to the guard at that gate, and from thence to the dwelling, which is at no distance from it, of Captain von W, who then commanded the fourth squadron of the above mentioned regiment.*

* I have considered it requisite to be very concise in the above relation of the particular circumstances, which took